CHAPTER 1
Dove collapsed, falling limp against Tulpar’s neck. River didn’t hesitate. She rushed to catch the eyeless girl as she began to topple from the stallion’s back. Tulpar was nickering in distress while he craned his neck around and tried to nuzzle Dove.
“River! What’s happening?” On her mare, Deinos, April thundered up, followed by a wide-eyed group of Riders, including a few haggard and sweat-covered stallions and their Riders—though a quick look confirmed to River that neither treacherous Clayton and Bard nor Skye and her Scout were among the group.
“Stop.” River held up her hand and her sister and second-in-command of Herd Magenti pulled Deinos to a halt. “Keep the Herd back until I call you.”
“Of course.” April kneed Deinos around to face the horses galloping up.
“Anjo, steady Gho—I mean, Tulpar,” said River.
Instantly, the big golden stallion stopped nickering in distress, though he did continue to nuzzle Dove.
The girl Dove had called Mari ran up. She had a big canine by her side, though he hesitated, remaining respectfully clear of the stallion’s hooves, while his eyes never left Mari.
“Does anyone have water?” Mari asked as she dropped to her knees beside Dove.
“Yes, in his saddlebag. I’ll get it.” River hurried to yank free the waterskin, causing the blanket with Clayton’s rolled-up deadly lasso to fall free. Grimly, River crammed it back into the saddlebag. She’d deal with Clayton and his treachery as soon as Dove and her newly bonded Tulpar were settled.
“Thank you,” Mari said as she took the waterskin and poured a little on a strip of fabric she ripped from her tunic, dabbing Dove’s pale face with the wet cloth. “Dove, can you hear me?”
The girl’s body trembled and she sucked in a gasping breath. “Tulpar? Where is my Tulpar?”
The stallion whinnied softly and lipped her hair.
“He’s right here.” Mari took one of Dove’s hands and guided it up to Tulpar’s muzzle.
Dove’s trembling stopped immediately as she stroked the stallion’s muzzle and wide forehead.
“Dove, the vision you had—how immediate is the threat? Is Death here? Now?” Mari asked.
River felt a jolt of fear as she waited for the girl’s answer. Were the dark words Dove had spoken before she fainted true and not just a strange, poetic metaphor for the life they left behind? Or did she speak of a literal “death” that followed them?
Dove lifted her head. “No. It is like what I felt about the Saleesh. The horrible thing is in the future, but it is there. It will happen. He will come.”
“He?” River asked.
Mari met her gaze. “Death. He’s coming.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I get visions,” Dove said. “I believe they are from the Great Goddess of Life. And through Tulpar’s eyes She showed me Death descending on the valley.”
“But not immediately. Right, Dove?” Mari asked.
“No, not immediately. We have time. Though my intuition tells me not a lot of it,” answered Dove.
“I’m going to need you to explain exactly what you mean,” said River.
“There is a lot to explain,” said Mari. “And we will tell you everything we know.”
“That sounds like a good start, but first we have stallions that must be tended. We’ll need to—”
“Please do not take Tulpar away from me. Please, oh please…” Dove’s voice broke on a sob.
River quickly crouched beside Dove. “You do not need to worry about that. A Rider is never, ever separated from her Companion horse.”
“You-you mean l-like when a puppy Chooses her Companion?” Dove asked shakily. “Once that happens the two are never separated.”
River’s gaze flicked from the young canine who was waiting several feet from them, staring unblinkingly at Mari, to her own Anjo, who stood just a few feet from River, watching her just as closely.
It is the same bond, Anjo spoke inside River’s mind. The canines are just as connected to their Companions. I can feel it—all the horses can.
“Yes, it is like the canine and Companion bond,” River said.
Dove stopped trembling and nodded, her shoulders collapsing in relief. “Then you understand.”
“Of course we do. When a horse Chooses a Rider it is for life. You will never be apart from Tulpar. He would not allow it,” River said.
“Exactly like our canine-Companion bond,” said Mari.
“I feel better. I can stand now,” Dove said.
“Okay, but take it easy.” Mari and River helped Dove stand. The girl leaned against Tulpar’s damp side, visibly drawing strength from the magnificent stallion. The moment it was clear that Dove was stable again, Mari turned to River.
“This is not how I imagined our first meeting would go, but my people and I are very glad to be here on the Plains of the Wind Riders. You already know her name, but Dove is also our Seer.”
River couldn’t stop her smile. “I am not surprised that Tulpar Chose a Seer. Did you know that our Herd, the Magenti, are led by Crystal Seers?”
“I know that you are led by women and that you are bonded to the magnificent creatures you ride, but I don’t know much more than that—though I am eager to learn. I am Mari, Companion to Rigel, and one of the two Moon Women who lead this group that we call our Pack.” Mari bowed her head respectfully as she opened her arms in a greeting that showed she carried no weapon and offered no ill will.
“And I am River, Rider to Anjo, who is Lead Mare of Herd Magenti Central.” River, too, bowed her head respectfully, crossing her wrists over her heart in her own traditional greeting. “Welcome to the Plains of the Wind Riders.” River gazed over Mari’s shoulder to the group of sweaty stallions and concerned-looking Herdmembers gathered several yards off with April. River noticed that her mother was in the center of the group, gazing confidently at her daughter—and she felt a surge of gratitude for Dawn’s faith in her ability to lead the Herd, even during an event as bizarre as a rogue stallion Choosing an eyeless stranger as his Rider.
River motioned to her watching Herd and April led them closer.
“I am happy to announce to Herd Magenti that our Herd Stallion, Tulpar”—she enunciated his name carefully—“has Chosen his Rider. Her name is Dove, and she is the Seer of this Pack.” River nodded to Mari.
The Herd gasped and murmured in shock.
Mari made a slight gesture and her canine padded to her side. As soon as the Herd quieted, she spoke in a strong, clear voice. “I am Mari, one of the two Moon Women who lead our Pack, and this is my Companion, Rigel.”
The Pack had reached the floor of the valley by then. They waited in a quiet group, several yards away. From that group another young woman stepped out. She had a thick length of dark hair that was dressed with beads and feathers. River felt a jolt of surprise when she realized that the girl was carrying a bright-eyed puppy in a sling across her chest—as if the pup was an infant.
“I am Sora, Companion to Chloe, and the second Moon Woman who leads our Pack,” she said, bowing respectfully to River and then to the watching Herd.
“Mari, Sora, do you seek safe passage through our territory?” River asked. She held her breath waiting for the answer, knowing that whatever the Moon Women said would impact her Herd dramatically.
“No, River. We seek a place to settle—to live peacefully and honestly. We have traveled from far in the west, up the Umbria River, over Lost Lake and through the Rock Mountains, with your plains as our destination. We would like to petition your Herd—your people—to allow us to settle here. We are more than willing to share our talents and experience with you, that we all might be stronger and more prosperous together.” Mari raised her voice so that it carried to the raptly listening Herd and Pack.
“Well, then, we have a lot to talk about in addition to Dove and her Tulpar.” River met her mother’s watchful gaze. Ever so slightly, Dawn nodded to her daughter, conveying confidence and agreement in one small movement. River drew a deep breath and turned to the Moon Women. “Mari, Sora, I would like to invite you and your Pack to be our guests. We were already planning to celebrate our victorious new Herd Stallion, Tulpar, and now we can add to the celebration the joyous fact that he has finally Chosen his Rider.”
“My Pack and I gratefully accept your invitation. It has been a very long journey and we, too, would like to celebrate the end of our travels,” Mari said.
“Is this all of your people?” River motioned to the waiting Pack.
“Yes, there are forty-two of us—and several canines, including many puppies,” Sora added.
“You are welcome to enter our camp. There is plenty of room for your Pack to rest comfortably with us while we discuss the future,” said River. “April, I am going to walk back to the campsite with Mari and Sora and their Pack. Please go ahead and begin having quarters in the cavern prepared for our guests.”
“Yes, River.” April nodded before turning Deinos, and, with the rest of the Herd, she trotted back to the campsite.
“River, will our canines be a disruption to your camp?” Mari asked.
River looked down at the canine at the girl’s side. He was large but still had the gangly look of a colt. Her gaze went from him to the small nose and shiny eyes that peered from the pouch slung across Sora’s chest. Then she met her mare’s intelligent gaze.
These canines are no threat. I sense no danger from them—only curiosity, spoke her mare in River’s mind.
“My Anjo doesn’t believe your canines pose any threat, so they should not be a disruption, either.”
“I assure you that they are no threat.” Mari raised her voice. “Nik, Antreas, please join us with Laru and Bast.”
Two men broke away from the Pack. One had a huge canine by his side and the other was obviously their guide as a Lynx accompanied him.
“River, this is my mate, Nik, and his Companion, Laru—who is also my Rigel’s father.” Nik bowed respectfully to River.
River returned the gesture before smiling at the other man. “I recognize you as a Lynx Companion and guide. Nearby Herds will be happy to hear there is a guide who has newly completed a journey. I know of several Riders who will be interested in your services.”
“I am Antreas. My Companion is Bast.” Antreas crossed his wrists over his heart and bowed in the Wind Rider salute. “Thank you for the kind offer of employment, but I am no longer a Lynx Guide. I have joined this Pack and will remain with them permanently—hopefully here on your beautiful plains.”
River’s curiosity was sparked. She’d never heard of a Lynx Guide abandoning his solitary profession and joining any group, but there would be time to ask questions later. She was very aware of how badly Tulpar needed to be cooled, as well as how haggard she appeared and felt.
“I’ll look forward to getting to know your unusual Pack. This day keeps getting more and more interesting,” River said.
“It sure does,” said Dove happily. She was still leaning against Tulpar, only now it wasn’t because she needed the support, but because she wanted to be close to the stallion.
River had never seen Tulpar look so relaxed. He rested his muzzle on the girl’s shoulder, nuzzling her occasionally as Dove stroked his wide forehead.
Tulpar is finally content. He has Chosen his Rider; his loneliness is gone, Anjo told her Rider.
Her mare’s words brought River great happiness, which she shared with Anjo.
“Dove, if you remount Tulpar you can ride him as we walk slowly back to camp. He has just been through a long, difficult race, and the walk will help him cool down,” River said to the beautiful, eyeless girl.
Dove’s smooth brow wrinkled in concentration. “Tulpar says he will need more than walking. Something about bathing him, caring for his muscles, and also he wants to eat a sweet, sticky mash. I—I do not know about any of those things.”
“Don’t worry. We’ll teach you everything you need to know.” River rested her hand comfortingly on the girl’s shoulder.
At her touch Dove jumped, as if River’s hand had been a hot brand.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you—only to reassure you that you need not worry,” River said.
Cheeks flushed, Dove smiled nervously. “Oh. Um. Thank you. And I wasn’t startled. I should remount Tulpar now, though. He says he is getting stiff.”
Copyright © 2023 by P. C. Cast
